
# 5.2: Introduction to Polynomials


Learning Objectives

• Identify a polynomial and determine its degree.
• Evaluate a polynomial for given values of the variables.
• Evaluate a polynomial using function notation.

## Definitions

A polynomial is a special algebraic expression with terms that consist of real number coefficients and variable factors with whole number exponents.

$$\color{Cerulean}{Examples\:of\:polynomials:}$$

$$3x^{2}\quad 7xy+5\quad \frac{3}{2}x^{3}+3x^{2}-\frac{1}{2}x+1\quad 6x^{2}y-4xy^{3}-4xy^{3}+7$$

Polynomials do not have variables in the denominator of any term.

$$\color{Cerulean}{Examples\:that\:are\:not\:polynomials:}$$

$$\frac{2x^{2}}{y} \quad 5\sqrt{x}+5\quad 5x^{2}+3x^{-2}+7\quad \frac{2}{x}-\frac{5}{y}=3$$

The degree of a term in a polynomial is defined to be the exponent of the variable, or if there is more than one variable in the term, the degree is the sum of their exponents. Recall that $$x^{0}=1$$; any constant term can be written as a product of $$x^{0}$$ and itself. Hence the degree of a constant term is $$0$$.

Term Degree
$$3x^{2}$$ $$2$$
$$6x^{2}y$$ $$2+1=3$$
$$7a^{2}b^{3}$$ $$2+3=5$$
$$8$$ $$0$$, since $$8=8x^{0}$$
$$2x$$ $$1$$, since $$x=x^{1}$$

Table 5.2.1

The degree of a polynomial is the largest degree of all of its terms.

Polynomial Degree
$$4x^{5}-3x^{3}+2x-1$$ $$5$$
$$6x^{2}y-5xy^{3}+7$$ $$4$$, because $$5xy^{3}$$ has degree $$4$$.
$$12x+54$$ $$1$$, because $$x=x^{1}$$

Table 5.2.2

We classify polynomials by the number of terms and the degree as follows:

Expression Classification Degree
$$5x^{7}$$ Monomial (one term) $$7$$
$$8x^{6}-1$$ Binomial (two terms) $$6$$
$$-3x^{2}+x-1$$ Trinomial (three terms) $$2$$
$$5x^{3}-2x^{2}+3x-6$$ Polynomial (many terms) $$3$$

Table 5.2.3

In this text, we will call polynomials with four or more terms simply polynomials.

Example $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Classify and state the degree:

$$7x^{2}−4x^{5}−1$$.

Solution:

Here there are three terms. The highest variable exponent is $$5$$. Therefore, this is a trinomial of degree $$5$$.

Trinomial; degree $$5$$

Example $$\PageIndex{2}$$

Classify and state the degree:

$$12a^{5}bc^{3}$$.

Solution:

Since the expression consists of only multiplication, it is one term, a monomial. The variable part can be written as $$a^{5}b^{1}c^{3}$$; hence its degree is $$5+1+3=9$$.

Monomial; degree $$9$$

Example $$\PageIndex{3}$$

Classify and state the degree:

$$4x^{2}y−6xy^{4}+5x^{3}y^{3}+4$$.

Solution:

The term $$4x^{2}y$$ has degree $$3$$; $$−6xy^{4}$$ has degree $$5; 5x^{3}y^{3}$$ has degree $$6$$; and the constant term $$4$$ has degree $$0$$. Therefore, the polynomial has $$4$$ terms with degree $$6$$.

Polynomial; degree $$6$$

Of particular interest are polynomials with one variable, where each term is of the form $$a_{n}x^{n}$$. Here $$a_{n}$$ is any real number and $$n$$ is any whole number. Such polynomials have the standard form

$a_{n}x^{n}+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_{1}x+a_{0}$

Typically, we arrange terms of polynomials in descending order based on the degree of each term. The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the variable with the highest power, in this case, $$a_{n}$$.

Example $$\PageIndex{4}$$

Write in standard form:

$$3x−4x^{2}+5x^{3}+7−2x^{4}$$.

Solution:

Since terms are separated by addition, write the following:

\begin{aligned} & 3x-4x^{2}+5x^{3}+7-2x^{4} \\ &=3x+(-4x^{2})+5x^{3}+7+(-2x^{4}) \end{aligned}

In this form, we can see that the subtraction in the original corresponds to negative coefficients. Because addition is commutative, we can write the terms in descending order based on the degree of each term as follows:

\begin{aligned} &=(-2x^{4})+5x^{3}+(-4x^{2})+3x+7 \\ &=-2x^{4}+5x^{3}-4x^{2}+3x+7 \end{aligned}

$$-2x^{4}+5x^{3}-4x^{2}+3x+7$$

We can further classify polynomials with one variable by their degree as follows:

Polynomial Name
$$5$$ Constant (degree $$0$$ )
$$2x+1$$ Linear (degree $$1$$ )
$$3x^{2}+5x-3$$ Quadratic (degree $$2$$ )
$$x^{3}+x^{2}+x+1$$ Cubic (degree $$3$$ )
$$7x^{4}+3x^{3}-7x+8$$ Fourth-degree polynomial

Table 5.2.4

In this text, we call any polynomial of degree $$n≥4$$ an $$n$$th-degree polynomial. In other words, if the degree is $$4$$, we call the polynomial a fourth-degree polynomial. If the degree is $$5$$, we call it a fifth-degree polynomial, and so on.

## Evaluating Polynomials

Given the values for the variables in a polynomial, we can substitute and simplify using the order of operations.

Example $$\PageIndex{5}$$

Evaluate:

$$3x−1$$, where $$x=−\frac{3}{2}$$.

Solution:

First, replace the variable with parentheses and then substitute the given value.

\begin{aligned} 3x-1 &=3(\:\: )-1 \\ &=3(\color{OliveGreen}{-\frac{3}{2}}\color{black}{)-1} \\ &=-\frac{9}{2}-1 \\ &=-\frac{9}{2}-\frac{2}{2} \\ &=-\frac{11}{2} \end{aligned}

$$-\frac{11}{2}$$

Example $$\PageIndex{6}$$

Evaluate:

$$3x^{2}+2x−1$$, where $$x=−1$$.

Solution:

\begin{aligned} 3x^{2}+2x-1&=3(\:\: )^{2}+2(\:\: )-1 \\ &=3(\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)^{2}+2(}\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)-1} \\ &=3\cdot 1-2-1 \\ &=3-2-1 \\ &=0 \end{aligned}

$$0$$

Example $$\PageIndex{7}$$

Evaluate:

$$−2a^{2}b+ab^{2}−7$$, where $$a=3$$ and $$b=−2$$.

Solution:

\begin{aligned} -2a^{2}b+ab^{2}-7&=-2(\:\:)^{2}(\:\:)+(\:\:)(\:\:)^{2}-7 \\ &=-2(\color{OliveGreen}{3}\color{black}{)^{2}(}\color{OliveGreen}{-2}\color{black}{)+(}\color{OliveGreen}{3}\color{black}{)(}\color{OliveGreen}{-2}\color{black}{)^{2}-7} \\ &=-2\cdot 9(-2)+3\cdot 4-7\\ &=36+12-7 \\ &=41 \end{aligned}

$$41$$

Example $$\PageIndex{8}$$

The volume of a sphere in cubic units is given by the formula $$V=\frac{4}{3}πr^{3}$$, where $$r$$ is the radius. Calculate the volume of a sphere with radius $$r=\frac{3}{2}$$ meters.

Solution:

\begin{aligned} V&=\frac{4}{3}\pi r^{3} \\ &=\frac{4}{3}\pi \left( \frac{3}{2} \right)^{3} \\ &=\frac{4}{3}\pi \frac{3^{3}}{2^{3}} \\ &=\frac{\color{Cerulean}{\stackrel{1}{\cancel{\color{black}{4}}}}}{\color{Cerulean}{\stackrel{\cancel{\color{black}{3}}}{1}}} \pi \frac{\color{Cerulean}{\stackrel{9}{\cancel{\color{black}{27}}}}}{\color{Cerulean}{\stackrel{\cancel{\color{black}{8}}}{2}}} \\ &=\frac{9}{2} \pi \end{aligned}

$$\frac{9}{2}\pi$$ cubic meters

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$

Evaluate:

$$x^{3}−x^{2}+4x−2$$, where $$x=−3$$.

$$-50$$

## Polynomial Functions

Polynomial functions with one variable are functions that can be written in the form

$f(x) = a_{n}x^{n} + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + ... + a_{0}$,

where $$a_{n}$$ is any real number and $$n$$ is any whole number. Some examples of the different classes of polynomial functions are listed below:

Polynomial function Name
$$f(x)=5$$ Constant function (degree $$0$$ )
$$f(x)=-2x+1$$ Linear function (degree $$1$$ )
$$f(x)=5x^{2}+4x-3$$ Quadratic function (degree $$2$$ )
$$f(x)=x^{3}-1$$ Cubic function (degree $$3$$ )
$$f(x)=4x^{5}+3x^{4}-7$$ Polynomial function

Table 5.2.5

Since there are no restrictions on the values for $$x$$, the domain of any polynomial function consists of all real numbers.

Example $$\PageIndex{9}$$

Calculate:

$$f(5)$$, given $$f(x)=−2x^{2}+5x+10$$.

Solution:

Recall that the function notation $$f(5)$$ indicates we should evaluate the function when $$x=5$$. Replace every instance of the variable $$x$$ with the value $$5$$.

\begin{aligned} f(\color{OliveGreen}{5}\color{black}{)}&=-2(\color{OliveGreen}{5}\color{black}{)^{2}+5(}\color{OliveGreen}{5}\color{black}{)+10} \\ &=-2\cdot 25+25+10 \\ &=-50+25+10 \\ &=-15 \end{aligned}

$$f(5)=-15$$

Example $$\PageIndex{10}$$

Calculate:

$$f(−1)$$, given $$f(x)=−x^{3}+2x^{2}−4x+1$$.

Solution:

Replace the variable $$x$$ with $$−1$$.

\begin{aligned} f(\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)} &=-(\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)^{3}+2(}\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)^{2}-4(}\color{OliveGreen}{-1}\color{black}{)+1} \\ &=-(-1)+2\cdot 1 +4+1 \\ &=1+2+4+1 \\ &=8 \end{aligned}

$$f(-1)=8$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{2}$$

Given $$g(x)=x^{3}−2x^{2}−x−4$$, calculate $$g(−1)$$.

$$g(−1)=−6$$

## Key Takeaways

• Polynomials are special algebraic expressions where the terms are the products of real numbers and variables with whole number exponents.
• The degree of a polynomial with one variable is the largest exponent of the variable found in any term.
• The terms of a polynomial are typically arranged in descending order based on the degree of each term.
• When evaluating a polynomial, it is a good practice to replace all variables with parentheses and then substitute the appropriate values.
• All polynomials are functions.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{3}$$ Definitions

Classify the given polynomial as linear, quadratic, or cubic.

1. $$2x+1$$
2. $$x^{2}+7x+2$$
3. $$2−3x^{2}+x$$
4. $$4x$$
5. $$x^{2}−x^{3}+x+1$$
6. $$5−10x^{3}$$

1. Linear

5. Cubic

Exercise $$\PageIndex{4}$$ Definitions

Classify the given polynomial as a monomial, binomial, or trinomial and state the degree.

1. $$x^{3}−1$$
2. $$x^{2}y^{2}$$
3. $$x−x^{5}+1$$
4. $$x^{2}+3x−1$$
5. $$5ab^{4}$$
6. $$13x−12$$
7. $$−5x^{3}+2x+1$$
8. $$8x^{2}−9$$
9. $$4x^{5}−5x^{3}+6x$$
10. $$8x^{4}−x^{5}+2x−3$$
11. $$9x+7$$
12. $$x^{5}+x^{4}+x^{3}+x^{2}−x+1$$
13. $$6x−1+5x^{4}−8$$
14. $$4x−3x^{2}+3$$
15. $$7$$
16. $$x^{2}$$
17. $$4x^{2}y−3x^{3}y^{3}+xy^{3}$$
18. $$a^{3}b^{2}−6ab$$
19. $$a^{3}b^{3}$$
20. $$x^{2}y−y^{2}x$$
21. $$xy−3$$
22. $$a^{5}bc^{2}+3a^{9}−5a^{4}b^{3}c$$
23. $$−3x^{10}y^{2}z−xy^{12}z+9x^{13}+30$$
24. $$7x^{0}$$

1. Binomial; degree $$3$$

3. Trinomial; degree $$5$$

5. Monomial; degree $$5$$

7. Trinomial; degree $$3$$

9. Trinomial; degree $$5$$

11. Binomial; degree $$1$$

13. Not a polynomial

15. Monomial; degree $$0$$

17. Trinomial; degree $$6$$

19. Monomial; degree $$6$$

21. Binomial; degree $$2$$

23. Polynomial; degree $$14$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{5}$$ Definitions

Write the following polynomials in standard form.

1. $$1−6x+7x^{2}$$
2. $$x−9x^{2}−8$$
3. $$7−x^{3}+x^{7}−x^{2}+x−5x^{5}$$
4. $$a^{3}−a^{9}+6a^{5}−a+3−a^{4}$$

1. $$7x^{2}−6x+1$$

3. $$x^{7}−5x^{5}−x^{3}−x^{2}+x+7$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{6}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

1. Fill in the following chart:

Figure 5.2.2
2. Fill in the following chart:

Figure 5.2.3

1.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{7}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

Evaluate.

1. $$2x−3$$, where $$x=3$$
2. $$x^{2}−3x+5$$, where $$x=−2$$
3. $$−12x+13$$, where $$x=−13$$
4. $$−x^{2}+5x−1$$, where $$x=−12$$
5. $$−2x^{2}+3x−5$$, where $$x=0$$
6. $$8x^{5}−27x^{3}+81x−17$$, where $$x=0$$
7. $$y^{3}−2y+1$$, where $$y=−2$$
8. $$y^{4}+2y^{2}−32$$, where $$y=2$$
9. $$a^{3}+2a^{2}+a−3$$, where $$a=−3$$
10. $$x^{3}−x^{2}$$, where $$x=5$$
11. $$34x^{2}−12x+36$$, where $$x=−23$$
12. $$58x^{2}−14x+12$$, where $$x=4$$
13. $$x^{2}y+xy^{2}$$, where $$x=2$$ and $$y=−3$$
14. $$2a^{5}b−ab^{4}+a^{2}b^{2}$$, where $$a=−1$$ and $$b=−2$$
15. $$a^{2}−b^{2}$$, where $$a=5$$ and $$b=−6$$
16. $$a^{2}−b^{2}$$, where $$a=34$$ and $$b=−14$$
17. $$a^{3}−b^{3}$$, where $$a=−2$$ and $$b=3$$
18. $$a^{3}+b^{3}$$, where $$a=5$$ and $$b=−5$$

1. $$3$$

3. $$\frac{1}{2}$$

5. $$−5$$

7. $$−3$$

9. $$−15$$

11. $$\frac{7}{6}$$

13. $$6$$

15. $$−11$$

17. $$−35$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{8}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

For each problem, evaluate $$b^{2}−4ac$$, given the following values.

1. $$a=−1, b=2$$, and $$c=−1$$
2. $$a=2, b=−2$$, and $$c=12$$
3. $$a=3, b=−5, c=0$$
4. $$a=1, b=0$$, and $$c=−4$$
5. $$a=14, b=−4$$, and $$c=2$$
6. $$a=1, b=5$$, and $$c=6$$

1. $$0$$

3. $$25$$

5. $$14$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{9}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

The volume of a sphere in cubic units is given by the formula $$V=\frac{4}{3}πr^{3}$$, where $$r$$ is the radius. For each problem, calculate the volume of a sphere given the following radii.

1. $$r = 3$$ centimeters
2. $$r = 1$$ centimeter
3. $$r = \frac{1}{2}$$ feet
4. $$r = \frac{3}{2}$$ feet
5. $$r = 0.15$$ in
6. $$r = 1.3$$ inches

1. $$36π$$ cubic centimeters

3. $$\frac{π}{6}$$ cubic feet

5. $$0.014$$ cubic inches

Exercise $$\PageIndex{10}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

The height in feet of a projectile launched vertically from the ground with an initial velocity $$v_{0}$$ in feet per second is given by the formula $$h=−16t^{2}+v_{0}t$$, where $$t$$ represents time in seconds. For each problem, calculate the height of the projectile given the following initial velocity and times.

1. $$v_{0}=64$$ feet/second, at times $$t = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4$$ seconds
2. $$v_{0}=80$$ feet/second, at times $$t = 0, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5$$ seconds

1.

Time Height
$$t=0$$ seconds $$h=0$$ feet
$$t=1$$ second $$h=48$$ feet
$$t=2$$ seconds $$h=64$$ feet
$$t=3$$ seconds $$h=48$$ feet
$$t=4$$ seconds $$h=0$$ feet

Table 5.2.6

Exercise $$\PageIndex{11}$$ Evaluating Polynomials

The stopping distance of a car, taking into account an average reaction time, can be estimated with the formula $$d=0.05v^{2}+1.5$$, where $$d$$ is in feet and $$v$$ is the speed in miles per hour. For each problem, calculate the stopping distance of a car traveling at the given speeds.

1. $$20$$ miles per hour
2. $$40$$ miles per hour
3. $$80$$ miles per hour
4. $$100$$ miles per hour

1. $$21.5$$ feet

3. $$321.5$$ feet

Exercise $$\PageIndex{12}$$ Polynomial Functions

Given the linear function $$f(x)=\frac{2}{3}x+6$$, evaluate each of the following.

1. $$f(−6)$$
2. $$f(−3)$$
3. $$f(0)$$
4. $$f(3)$$
5. Find $$x$$ when $$f(x)=10$$.
6. Find $$x$$ when $$f(x)=−4$$.

1. $$2$$

3. $$6$$

5. $$x=6$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{13}$$ Polynomial Functions

Given the quadratic function $$f(x)=2x^{2}−3x+5$$, evaluate each of the following.

1. $$f(−2)$$
2. $$f(−1)$$
3. $$f(0)$$
4. $$f(2)$$

1. $$19$$

3. $$5$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{14}$$ Polynomial Functions

Given the cubic function $$g(x)=x^{3}−x^{2}+x−1$$, evaluate each of the following.

1. $$g(−2)$$
2. $$g(−1)$$
3. $$g(0)$$
4. $$g(1)$$

1. $$-15$$

3. $$-1$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{15}$$ Polynomial Functions

The height in feet of a projectile launched vertically from the ground with an initial velocity of $$128$$ feet per second is given by the function $$h(t)=−16t^{2}+128t$$, where $$t$$ is in seconds. Calculate and interpret the following.

1. $$h(0)$$
2. $$h(12)$$
3. $$h(1)$$
4. $$h(3)$$
5. $$h(4)$$
6. $$h(5)$$
7. $$h(7)$$
8. $$h(8)$$

1. The projectile is launched from the ground.

3. The projectile is $$112$$ feet above the ground $$1$$ second after launch.

5. The projectile is $$256$$ feet above the ground $$4$$ seconds after launch.

7. The projectile is $$112$$ feet above the ground $$7$$ seconds after launch.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{16}$$ Discussion Board Topics

1. Find and share some graphs of polynomial functions.
2. Explain how to convert feet per second into miles per hour.
3. Find and share the names of fourth-degree, fifth-degree, and higher polynomials.